While They Plot Against Me… I Walk Into His Arms

Bai You had been going to auditions everywhere since the beginning of the year.

After his recent cameo, he finally landed a decent role. Just this morning, he got the news: he’d secured his first male lead role.

Bai You’s career was unusual. Though he’d debuted at seventeen or eighteen, with looks to match, he’d never even gotten a third lead role at twenty-five. He was doing worse than Ye Zhixia.

Maybe their energies clashed. Ye Zhiqiu’s friends never liked Ye Zhixia, and Ye Zhixia’s friends often mocked Ye Zhiqiu.

Growing up in the same house, they seemed fine, but their circles were like two different camps.

For years, Bai You had been overshadowed by Ye Zhixia. On set, Ye Zhixia often taunted him. It made Jin Baobao so angry he wanted to fight.

So this male lead role was huge. Jin Baobao was more excited than Bai You.

When Ye Zhiqiu arrived, Jin Baobao was already praising Bai You to the skies.

But he did that even when Bai You had a tiny role. So Li Shaojun, who had heard it for years, was unmoved.

Tang Le, though, listened with interest.

Seeing a new audience, Jin Baobao’s eyes lit up.

“Xiaoqiu…” He went on.

“And guess who the male lead is?” He paused dramatically, looking around.

Li Shaojun had just added more food to Ye Zhiqiu’s plate. He looked up. “Don’t tell me it’s your Yanyan.”

“Yes!” Jin Baobao clapped. “My Youyou’s luck is finally turning.”

Ye Zhiqiu smiled. He remembered something.

Zhao Keqi had said his father was investing in a film, and they were talking to Meng Qingyan. Ye Zhiqiu had been busy, just asked what kind.

A period drama, a gay film.

He’d called because the stylist was sick, and the director couldn’t find anyone else. They needed a younger stylist to work with the original one.

The leads weren’t set. Ye Zhiqiu had the fashion show. They agreed to meet after.

He wondered if this was the same film.

“But even with Meng as the lead,” Li Shaojun said, “Bai You’s luck is something else.”

Jin Baobao glared.

“Don’t be a kid,” he snapped. He turned and spat. “Forget that. My Youyou will be famous.”

Ye Zhiqiu laughed.

“This is progress. And Meng is good at picking scripts. Most of his projects are hits. He’s an investor, too. Q.L. and Meng Jewelry are in most of his films. The production will be good.”

“See?” Jin Baobao said. “Learn from my treasure.”

He frowned. “I heard the stylist is sick. They’re looking for a new one. I don’t know when filming will start. And Meng is always busy.”

He clasped his hands. “They’re both my favorites. A film with them both is like my own child. I hope it’s not delayed.”

Li Shaojun nearly choked.

“It won’t,” he said, serving Jin Baobao. “Eat.”

Tang Le, usually so good at comforting, was quiet. He was thinking.

“A new stylist?” he said.

A film set needed more than a stylist. It needed assistants.

He was a student. No connections. He couldn’t just walk onto a set.

Assistant roles were the usual way in.

But this set was different.

The male lead was Meng Qingyan, the youngest double Best Actor winner.

A hit film with his name on it would open doors.

If Gao Wenye didn’t work out, he’d have options.

“What’s wrong?” Ye Zhiqiu asked. “Thinking of becoming a stylist?”

Tang Le snapped back. He wanted to say yes, but he was guilty. He blurted, “No.”

He regretted it.

If he’d said yes, maybe Ye Zhiqiu could help.

Ye Zhiqiu was at Q.L., which invested in Meng’s films.

And now, how could he ask Bai You for help?

“It’s hard work,” Ye Zhiqiu said, “but challenging. I’d like to try it.”

“You?” Li Shaojun said. “You’d show up the actors.”

“Maybe I’m a better fit,” Tang Le said, taking the opening. “It does sound interesting.”

His phone rang. Tao Ruoqing.

He silenced it.

“Answer it,” Jin Baobao said. “We’re friends here.”

Tang Le often ignored calls. Jin Baobao thought he was shy.

“Just spam,” Tang Le said.

“So, what kind of place do you want?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Li Shaojun said. “You have the rest of us worried.”

Ye Zhiqiu thought.

Qin Jianhe said not to look. But he was wary of getting too close.

And he’d already told them. Not looking would raise questions.

Especially with Tang Le.

“Sixty or seventy square meters, two bedrooms,” Ye Zhiqiu said. “Near work.”

“Got it,” Li Shaojun said.

“A big one-bedroom would work, if the living room is big enough,” Ye Zhiqiu added.

He could use the extra space for work.

“Clean and simple.”

“Leave it to us,” Li Shaojun said.

“I can’t help much,” Tang Le said. “But I can run errands.”

“Stay out of it,” Li Shaojun said. “You don’t know his picky taste.”

Ye Zhiqiu laughed.

“Sorry,” Li Shaojun said. “My treat tonight.”

They ate. It was Friday. They had the weekend.

“Let’s do something,” Jin Baobao said.

“I’m working,” Ye Zhiqiu said.

“Your boss is awful,” Jin Baobao said. Then he remembered Q.L.’s boss.

He remembered the Western restaurant, Qin Jianhe holding Ye Zhiqiu’s hand.

Ye Zhiqiu knew what he was thinking.

“Let’s play games,” Li Shaojun said. “You have a new console. Let’s go to your place.”

“I’ll pass,” Tang Le said, thinking of Tao Ruoqing’s call. “I’m bad at games. I have homework.”

“Let’s go.” Li Shaojun called for a designated driver. “We’ll drop you.”

In the elevator, Li Shaojun said, “Don’t drive if you’ve been drinking. Get a designated driver.”

“I’m working all night,” Ye Zhiqiu said. “Don’t worry.”

He got off at the first floor. The others went to the garage.

He went up to the third floor.

He needed things for Qin Jianhe’s place.

When the doors opened, someone called him.

“Sister-in… Xiao Ye?”

It was Zhou Hao. He’d been waiting for the elevator.

“Zhou Hao.” Ye Zhiqiu smiled. “What are you doing here?”

Zhou Hao had a fabric factory. In the past, he’d been a good friend to Qi Xin.

Unlike Wang Qun, who had openly supported Jiang Nan.

Zhou Hao had always been respectful. He’d even fought with Qi Xin over how he treated Ye Zhiqiu.

He was the only one who treated him normally.

“There are some small brands nearby,” Zhou Hao said. “I was meeting with clients.”

He pulled Ye Zhiqiu to a quiet corner. “Have you eaten?”

“Yes.”

“I heard you’re at Q.L. now.”

“Yes.”

“Amazing,” Zhou Hao said. “Qi Xin can’t stop talking about you.”

Ye Zhiqiu knew Qi Xin still saw Zhou Hao. He needed the materials.

“Does he?” Ye Zhiqiu smiled.

“You’re lucky to have him.”

Ye Zhiqiu had seen the designs online. They were selling well. The fabric was probably from Zhou Hao.

“I was wondering if…” Zhou Hao started, then stopped.

He remembered when they’d tried to meet before. Qi Xin had said Ye Zhiqiu was tired.

“What is it?” Ye Zhiqiu asked.

“Nothing.” Zhou Hao smiled. “We should get together sometime.”

“We almost did,” Ye Zhiqiu said. “Last year.”

Zhou Hao was surprised.

“Qi Xin said you were busy.”

Ye Zhiqiu looked confused. “He said… I thought he didn’t want to go.”

Zhou Hao understood. Qi Xin had blamed Ye Zhiqiu.

Maybe he was embarrassed by his friends.

“It’s fine,” Zhou Hao said. “Another time.”

“Okay,” Ye Zhiqiu said. “I have to get some things. Then work.”

“So late?”

“I’m going abroad for the show on Monday.”

Zhou Hao was impressed. Ye Zhiqiu was so young, already at Q.L., already at fashion week.

“I should let you go. We’ll talk when you’re back.”

They said goodbye.

Ye Zhiqiu’s smile faded.

He bought what he needed. Lubricant. Condoms. Things.

He paid and left.

A ride was waiting. It was after ten. Qin Jianhe hadn’t called.

Tang Le got out at school. It was cold. Empty.

He went to the lake and called Tao Ruoqing.

“Mrs. Ye,” he said. “I was with Xiaoqiu. I couldn’t talk.”

“He’s moving out,” she said.

“Yes.”

“I’ll lose control. You’re his friend. See if you can move in with him. I’ll pay.”

“Suddenly? I need a reason.”

“Find one.”

“I’ll try.”

“If he leaves, we won’t know what he’s doing. We can’t guide him.”

“I understand.”

He hung up.

* * * *

Ye Zhiqiu passed the congee place. He called Qin Jianhe.

“I’m almost there.”

“I’ll meet you.”

He paid the driver. When he looked up, Qin Jianhe was there.

He must have been waiting.

Ye Zhiqiu took his hand. It was cool.

“You were out here long?”

“No.”

Qin Jianhe held his hand. “Come by during the day. I’ll put you in the system.”

They walked under the moon.

At his building, Qin Jianhe laughed.

“I was studying,” he said. “I needed air. I came down.”

Ye Zhiqiu didn’t understand.

They went up. The apartment was bright.

He saw the projector screen. He knew what Qin Jianhe had been watching.

“So you came out for air,” Ye Zhiqiu said.

Qin Jianhe pulled him close. “I wanted to be better for you.”

Ye Zhiqiu blinked. He was fine. Qin Jianhe was strong.

“What? You never watched this stuff?”

“I wasn’t interested.”

Ye Zhiqiu laughed.

Qin Jianhe held him.

“Watching isn’t enough,” he said. “Let’s practice.”